He is one of the most famous hunters in the world, with his many hunting trips broadcast to TVs and movie theaters around the world—for more than 75 years! Though it’s true that he began his on-screen hunting before hunting education began, we think he especially could benefit from a bit of safety education.

Elmer Fudd, sir, perhaps you should take a hunter safety course. Here are a few reasons why:

While it appears you do wear at least a token amount of blaze orange on the side of your hunting cap and at the neck of your collar, that’s nowhere near enough to be truly safe!

State regulations vary, but it’s generally recommended that you wear a daylight fluorescent orange had and daylight fluorescent orange outerwear, such as a shirt, vest, or jacket. This makes it easier for other hunters to see you, helping minimize accidents (you seem to have a lot of accidents!).

Not to be disrespectful, Mr. Fudd, but you regularly violate these essential rules almost every time you appear on screen. A hunter’s education course will help you really understand why these rules are so important!

3) Practice safe field carries.

While you’re in the field, in order to follow that first rule of firearm safety (keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times!) you need to have good control of your firearm. Hunter safety will teach you several safe field carries. As you often carry a break-action rifle, perhaps you would be comfortable with a cradle carry?

4) Know your quarry.

Undoubtedly you have a lot of experience pursuing that big rabbit (and sometimes that mouthy duck), but how well do you really know your quarry? For example, a rifle isn’t usually the right firearm for hunting small game such as rabbits and ducks. (And dynamite is never appropriate!) Granted, you are hunting much larger-than-usual animals, but putting more time into researching your quarry before the hunt will greatly increase your odds of success.

5) Research hunting seasons before the hunt!

While it’s clear that you’re up against some wily prey, you probably ought to take a little time to research the hunting season for your area. Don’t just depend on the sign on that tree, since we know that both the duck and the wabbit you hunt are tall enough to change the sign on you! If you research beforehand and have the proper licenses, you won’t be fooled by this gimmick.

6) Sight-In Your Rifle and Become a Good Marksman

It appears you have missed your target—even when it is right in front of you! You may need to properly sight-in your rifle. If that’s not what is determined to be the problem, perhaps you need to do some target practice—off the field!—so that you can know your accuracy limits. Hunter education can help with all of that.

See, Mr. Fudd? There’s a lot you can learn with a good hunter education safety course—and you can even take it online! Now that you’ve reached the end of our list, there’s only one thing left to say:

Recently there’s been a rise in locavore hunters—people who hunt not because of tradition or trophies, but because they’re conscientious eaters, seeking a deeper understanding of where their food comes from. This difference in motive, however, doesn’t make these “locavores” any less passionate about the sport. In fact, this group is a possible reason for the 9% increase in the number of hunters in the U.S. between 2006 and 2011.

What exactly makes a conscientious eater take the leap from simply eating locally harvested foods to grabbing a bow and hunting on their own? According to writer and former vegan Tovar Cerulli, the first step was recognizing that everything he ate had a cost to animals.

“Clearing land for agriculture destroys wildlife habitat. Birds, rabbits and rodents get minced by grain combines, and fish get poisoned by fertilizer and pesticide runoff. Growing crops of all kinds depends on keeping white-tailed deer populations in check: hunters and farmers kill them by the millions every year. Even in the garden my wife and I were growing, we had to deal with ravenous insects and fence-defying woodchucks. We also had to feed the soil, and the most readily available fertilizer came from local dairy farms.”

Locavore hunter Kristen Schmitt

Another factor is nutritional value. Writer Kristen Schmitt, pictured above, made the switch from vegetarian to meat eater after a recommendation from her doctor: “I wasn’t getting enough quality protein in my diet and decided to switch back to an animal-based diet.” Tovar was given similar instructions from his doctor, who suggested that veganism may have been the cause of his lack of energy and weak immune system.

Why not just head to the grocery store and pick up packaged meat? Both Tovar and Kristen say that there is much more to it than that. Tovar explains that he took up hunting “as a way of confronting mortality: the fact that my life and diet are inextricably linked to the lives and deaths of animals, and the larger fact that all of nature exists this way.”

For Kristen, the benefits of hunting are having a connection with the food on her plate, and knowing how nature plays a part in everything she consumes. She also says that hunting is important from an ecological and environmental standpoint. “You are taking essentially one animal out of its natural and native environment, which leaves less of an ecological footprint than commercial-sized farms.”

With the rise of locavores, another group has been quickly growing in the hunting world—women. When asked if she would suggest hunting to other women, Kristen said, “I would definitely recommend anyone who is interested in hunting give it a try. It brings you closer to nature, gives you confidence in your abilities, and is a very empowering activity. I enjoy spending time outdoors practicing archery and also teaching my daughter how to use her bow.”

So whether you hunt because of tradition, or because you value locally harvested food, one thing’s for sure—hunting is time well spent. Don’t believe me? Take it from Kristen, who says “hunting is a great way for families to spend time together—away from the computer or television screens.”

Looking to take the first leap into the hunting world? Start studying for your hunting certification for free with Hunter Ed™.

Kristen Schmitt writes articles on hunting, nature, wildlife, sustainable agriculture and environmental issues. Her articles have appeared in National Geographic, Modern Farmer, Food Politic, Deer & Deer Hunting, USA Today Hunt & Fish, goHUNT, Modern Hunter, and several other publications.

Tovar Cerulli has written on hunting, wildlife, forestry, and conservation for Outdoor America, High Country News, Northern Woodlands, Massachusetts Wildlife, and TheAtlantic.com, among others. His first book, The Mindful Carnivore: A Vegetarian’s Hunt for Sustenance, has drawn praise from hunters and vegetarians alike and was named Best Book of 2012 by the New England Outdoor Writers Association.

There’s been a debate raging in the world of hunting revolving around a small piece of flying tech—drones. The Federal Aviation Administration simply defines drones as unmanned aircraft systems. Of course, in the world of hunting, those unmanned aircraft systems include cameras with video capability to scout and track game. This single attribute seems to be the wedge driving pro-drone and anti-drone hunters further and further apart.

(While reading, keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this article in no way reflect the views of the author, Hunter Ed™, or Kalkomey Enterprises Inc. The intent of this article is to simply spur discussion.)

No-Drone Zone

On one side of the debate are hunting purists, who stress the importance of “fair chase.” Those opposed to drones feel the robots could give some hunters an unfair advantage. If someone could afford it, what’s to stop a hunter from buying a whole fleet of drones to scout an area while hunting? To the hunter that enjoys spot and stalking, this could make the sport way too easy for those who are less passionate about “the chase.”

Hunters aren’t the only ones who could be cheated by drone use. Illinois State Sen. Julie Morrison told the Pantagraph that the use of drones isn’t “fair for hunters and fishers who are seriously into the sport, and it’s not fair for the animals that deserve a chance to escape.”

Morrison is one of many lawmakers gunning for drones in the world of hunting. She recently proposed legislation in Illinois that would make the use of drones while hunting a misdemeanor criminal charge. This is similar to a bill recently approved in Michigan, which prohibits hunters, and those wishing to harass hunters, from using drones in the field. This follows the trend started in Colorado, Montana, Alaska, and Saskatchewan, where legislators have banned the use of unmanned aircrafts to locate game.

Still not sure what to think about drones and hunting? Consider what outdoor enthusiast Mia Anstine had to say:

“When I’m asked about ‘hunting with drones,’ I often have to step back a bit to clarify the meaning. In most instances, the drones aren’t used to hunt animals but rather scout or locate them. In my personal opinion, the use of drones in hunting should be similar to the ‘no-fly’ rules in the state of Colorado. A hunter should not be able to use the aerial camera for ‘X’ amount of days prior to the hunt. I’m not too excited about using cameras to locate animals during the event, but I AM excited about the awesome footage filmmakers and photographers are capturing with the use of drones.”

-Mia Anstine

Drones: What Are They Good For?

Those who support the use of drones for hunting see the tiny unmanned aircrafts opening up a new world of possibilities for hunters. Rather than driving around scouting an area before hunting season, hunters can sit in one stationary location and send their drone out to survey the area for them. Drones also provide new perspective when observing nature: what your binoculars can’t see, a drone can. This simplification could make hunting seem more attractive to those who want to try the activity, but aren’t too keen on “getting their hands dirty.” It could also improve accessibility, allowing those who aren’t as mobile to join in on the fun.

Drone supporters also point out that hunting is no stranger to technology, with hunters using trail cameras, cell phone apps, and GPS devices to assist them. Keeping this in mind, drones can be seen as “just another piece of gear.”

What side of the fence are you on? Do you support the use of drones in hunting?

Whether you are pro-drone or anti-drone, we can all agree that the best kind of hunting is safe hunting. Stay safe and get certified through Hunter Ed™.

Turkey hunting can be particularly exciting, especially when there’s a tom strutting and gobbling in front of you. For this reason, it also takes extra planning to stay safe during the hunt. Because turkeys have good eyesight, an effective hunter has to blend in well with his or her surroundings to be successful. But that also increases the risk of injuries or fatalities if other hunters mistake you for the bird, or fail to see you behind or in line with your decoy(s) or in your blind.

Follow these important tips to keep yourself and others safe while you bag a bird:

Don’t wear ANY red, white, blue, or black. These are turkey colors, and another hunter may mistake you for a bird.

Be absolutely sure of your target. That extra second of verification could save a life!

If you do see another hunter in the area, don’t move—call out to alert them that you are there.

Don’t stalk turkey sounds; it could be another hunter. Call the birds to you.

When selecting your spot, protect your back with a large tree, rock, or other large natural barrier. Same thing for choosing where to place your blind.

After bagging your bird, wrap it in either camouflage or a blaze orange bag for the haul out. A decoy should be handled the same way.

Always leave a hunt plan telling someone of where you will be and what time you expect to be back. This way, if there is an emergency, help can arrive more quickly.

Turkey hunting is a challenging and rewarding sport, but remember, no bird is worth your health. Follow these guidelines and what you learned in your hunting safety course and you’ll have many more hunts in your future.